JetBlue Fined $2 Million for Chronic Flight Delays and Unrealistic Scheduling

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has imposed a $2 million fine on JetBlue Airways for operating chronically delayed flights and maintaining unrealistic flight schedules. This marks the first time the DOT has penalized an airline for such practices.

Of the total penalty, $1 million will be allocated to compensate affected passengers over the next year. The remaining $1 million will be paid to the U.S. Treasury, with half due within 60 days and the other half within a year of the initial payment.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the department’s commitment to holding airlines accountable. “We will enforce the law against airlines engaging in chronic delays or unrealistic scheduling to ensure fair treatment of passengers and healthy competition in the aviation sector,” he stated.

Findings from the DOT Investigation
According to DOT rules, a flight is considered chronically delayed if it operates at least 10 times monthly and arrives over 30 minutes late more than 50% of the time. Cancellations are also factored into this determination.

Between June 2022 and November 2023, JetBlue operated four chronically delayed flights a total of 145 times, with some flights delayed for more than five consecutive months. These routes included flights from New York’s JFK Airport to Raleigh-Durham, as well as routes connecting Fort Lauderdale to Orlando, Windsor Locks, and JFK.

JetBlue’s Response
JetBlue acknowledged the fine in a statement, stressing its commitment to punctual operations and highlighting substantial investments aimed at reducing delays. The airline pointed to air traffic control (ATC) issues, particularly in the Northeast and Florida, as contributing factors.

“While we’ve resolved this matter, accountability for reliable air travel also lies with the U.S. government, which operates the nation’s air traffic control system,” the airline stated. JetBlue urged federal authorities to modernize outdated ATC technology and address staffing shortages to reduce delays impacting millions of passengers annually.

Industry Performance and Passenger Protections
From January to September 2023, only 71.29% of JetBlue flights arrived on time, ranking it ninth out of 10 major U.S. airlines in DOT’s air travel consumer report. In contrast, Hawaiian Airlines topped the list with 82.69% of flights arriving on schedule.

In recent years, the DOT has strengthened passenger protections, including mandating transparency on airfare fees and requiring automatic cash refunds for qualifying disruptions. Future compensation for delayed passengers on affected JetBlue flights will have a minimum value of $75 per passenger, according to the DOT.

This enforcement action underscores the DOT’s ongoing efforts to improve reliability and accountability within the airline industry.